Fmr Granger advisor backs Ali-led PPP/C for 2nd term

…recalls attempts by APNU/AFC to rig 2020 elections

…dismisses Opposition parties as no real challenge

Advisor to former President David Granger, Frederick McWilfred believes that Dr Irfaan Ali is the only contender with a credible plan for Guyana’s future while adding that his strength is further reinforced by having one of the greatest politicians of our time, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, at his side.
“The only viable Presidential Candidate is Irfaan Ali… and he is very fortunate to have in the person of Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, someone who is very experienced and I tell people that Bharrat Jagdeo reminds me of Forbes Burnham in his political acumen, in his political dexterity and Irfaan Ali is very fortunate to have VP Jagdeo to get advice from – he is the head of the party- so Irfaan Ali is given a chance to function and grow and in his second term, he will grow and blossom,” McWilfred related during the recent televised episode of ‘Political Insights.’

He referenced to the other parties such as A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) led by Aubrey Norton, the Alliance For Change (AFC) led by Attorney at Law Nigel Huges and We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) led by United States (US)-sanctioned, Azruddin Mohamed as no match for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the September 1 polls.
According to him, the APNU, of which the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) is the main component, has a history of electoral rigging attempts prior to the 2020 elections, which the party sought to delay despite being aware that the PPP/C had won. “When we lost the elections in 2020, I decided to retire. The PPP won those elections, there was an attempt to rig those elections and I am not going into details, but the actors know what happened. Even while the recount was going on and you would have recalled that the winner of the election was not declared until August 2020… on the 6th June, 2020 I resigned from my position at the Office of the President.”
Rigging attempts refreshed memory
A decision, he took despite his contract was already renewed by the then President. McWilfred who had functioned under various capacities at the Ministry of Presidency recalled that in June 2020, he realised that the then President Granger would not return to office and as such, resigned.
He noted that having worked under former Prime Minister (PM) and then President, Forbes Burnham, the rigging attempts refreshed his memory of that era. I was aware of Burnham’s survival as a politician as a leader being a direct result of the cold war and the western powers to keep Cheddi Jagan out of office. The PNC used to rig those elections.” In 2020, there was a clear manifestation of that era which was not allowed.

Touching on the AFC, he noted that the party had been seen as a new horizon for Guyana but that all changed after joining with the PNC/R that led to the formation of the APNU/AFC Coalition
“The APNU/AFC Coalition was essentially a PNC Government… I think that AFC was destroyed as a political party as a political force during that coalition. The PNC leaders did not treat the AFC as a coalition partner but, they were toss aside, they were militarised and they lost their purpose. They brought votes to that coalition because people were dissatisfied with the PPP and people saw them as someone who would represent them in that coalition but that did not happen.”
He added, today the AFC is a splint political force and believes that it will not get a seat in Parliament after the September 1 polls.

Not racism
He, nevertheless stated that opposition political activists cannot blame the PPP/C for securing its political base by any means possible while noting that Granger refused to do so in the 2015 elections but rather, single-handedly destroyed the coalition because he did not take advise. “What the PPP/C is doing is not racism… what they are doing in securing their political base and no one can fault them for that. Who stopped Granger from securing his political base in the 2015-2020 period? No one stopped him, he refused to do it… he did not listen to people who wanted him to do it… he destroyed the coalition – the WPA (Working People’s Alliance) and GAP (Guyana Action Party), they had no say in that coalition…”
He recalled that Granger appointed Dr Clive Thomas to head State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) and has never met with him once. He admitted that the APNU/AFC was a disoriented party with no direction and proper leadership.
Meanwhile, he appealed to the people of Guyana to give President Dr Irfaan Ali another chance as he has good intentions for the development of Guyana and its people.